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BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - A Strategic Pathway - Commissioned by Sponsors: Asia New Zealand ...
BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE
A Strategic Pathway

Commissioned by

Sponsors:

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BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - A Strategic Pathway - Commissioned by Sponsors: Asia New Zealand ...
Disclaimer:
This Report has been prepared by PwC for the NZ China Council and represents the views of the author. However, neither PwC, the NZ
China Council, nor any contributor or sponsor represents or warrants the correctness or accuracy of the contents of the Report nor takes
any responsibility to anyone that relies on the Report or any aspect of it. Anyone wishing to rely on the Report should make their own
inquires and take their own advice.                                              | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 2
BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - A Strategic Pathway - Commissioned by Sponsors: Asia New Zealand ...
FOREWORD by the Chair of the NZ China Council, Sir Don McKinnon
I am pleased to provide an introduction to this report on opportunities for New Zealand under China’s Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI) prepared by PwC.
The NZ China Council was established in 2012 as an independent organisation bringing together key stakeholders from
government, business and the wider community and dedicated to building strength and resilience into New Zealand’s
relationship with China.
BRI is an extraordinarily ambitious undertaking and one which continues to evolve. In commissioning this report, the Council
wished to achieve a number of objectives. First and foremost, we wanted to consider BRI from a New Zealand perspective and
to inform stakeholders of opportunities and any potential risks. Second, we wanted to contribute in a practical way to the
development of ideas and projects which could be advanced under the Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA), which the two
governments concluded during the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in March 2016: the MoA is an aspirational, non-binding
undertaking, which nevertheless signals New Zealand and China’s willingness to explore options for closer collaboration under
a BRI framework. And, lastly, we wanted to provide some further analytical underpinning for the work that needs to continue
to be done to grow New Zealand’s relationship with China at a time when many others are competing for the attention of an
emerging super-power.
The report tries to take a fresh, innovative and practical approach to the prospects for co-operation under BRI. We asked PwC
to focus in particular on opportunities to create greater connectivity between New Zealand, China and the 68 other BRI
participants. While BRI is perhaps best known for the large-scale infrastructure projects being undertaken in developing
countries along the Belt and Road, we believe New Zealand’s approach needs to reflect our comparative advantage, especially
given the limited size of New Zealand’s domestic infrastructure programme from a global perspective. This is not to say that
there are no opportunities in infrastructure – including potentially in supplying New Zealand services solutions in infrastructure
projects in third countries – but the focus of this report is firmly on connectivity.
The Council is very grateful to the sponsors of this project, whose logos appear on the cover. They have engaged in this project
because they see the analysis and, even more so, the discussions that will follow to be important for New Zealand.
Representatives of these organisations participated actively with PwC in a “diverge-converge” process, described in the report,
which evaluated a large number of possible activities against a set of criteria which highlighted above all relevance to both
countries, ease of implementation as well as reputational and other risks. The outcome was the eight activities grouped under
four categories in the areas of Trade Facilitation, New Zealand as a Conduit to South America, the Creative sector and
Innovation. These areas for future co-operation are not intended to be exhaustive, but illustrative of what could be developed.
We fully expect other potential areas to be uncovered as part of ongoing discussion that we hope will be generated around this
report.
The Council is also grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) which provided both a significant grant towards
the completion of the report and useful background material and insights. The final report is issued on the authority of the
Council alone and should not be taken to represent the policy of the New Zealand Government.
As we continue to develop engagement with BRI it is important that we do so aware of potential risks and challenges, which
have been highlighted in a number of quarters and which are considered in the report, and in the light of New Zealand’s key
interests and deeply-held values.
The next steps for this report envisage the presentation of further relevant materials on the Council’s website as well as a
programme of outreach and consultation around New Zealand. We welcome feedback on the report and encourage its wide
dissemination and use as a starting point for further reflection and discussion.
We thank the report’s authors at PwC for their work and look forward to the continuing journey along the Belt and Road.

Sir Don McKinnon
Auckland, 1 March 2018

                                                                            | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway |
BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - A Strategic Pathway - Commissioned by Sponsors: Asia New Zealand ...
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
      The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was            In March 2017, New Zealand and China          The changing nature of BRI means it is
      announced in 20131 by Chinese President           signed a Memorandum of Arrangement            challenging to clearly define BRI and the
      Xi Jinping who subsequently described it          (MoA) under which the countries               opportunities it presents. However what
      as the “project of the century”.2 BRI             undertook to explore ways of working          is clear is that BRI is at the very core of
      promotes closer ties between countries            together in specified areas to expand         China’s country to country relationships.
      through development-led trade growth.             trade and investment and to develop a         Proactive engagement with BRI
      This requires a massive infrastructure            pathway for cooperation and exchanges         demonstrates an understanding of the
      construction programme complemented               to support the BRI.                           importance of BRI to China. The breadth
      by bilateral commitments covering trade                                                         and inclusiveness of BRI means that
      and investment. BRI is also regarded as a         The scale of the BRI is hugely ambitious.     countries can decide for themselves the
                                                        The estimated cost of BRI projects is         extent to which they engage with BRI.
      significant geostrategic initiative, which
      reflects China’s changing status as an            expected to be approximately US
                                                        $2.5trillion over the next decade.5           Having signed the MoA New Zealand has
      economic and military power.
                                                                                                      signalled willingness to engage with BRI.
      At the 19th National Congress of the              BRI related infrastructure development is     We must now determine the depth and
                                                        changing the flow of goods around the         breadth of our engagement.
      Communist Party of China held in Beijing
                                                        globe. These changes have the potential
      in October 2017 the BRI was embedded
                                                        to impact on the flow of New Zealand’s        Engaging with BRI gives us an opportunity
      within the Chinese Constitution.3 This
                                                        trade into China.                             to protect our hard won and valuable
      demonstrates the importance and
                                                                                                      relationship with China, a relationship
      permanence of BRI within the Chinese              69 countries and organisations have           that may otherwise be at risk of
      system.                                           signed up to be a part of BRI.6 The vast      “preference erosion” as China is likely to
                                                        majority of those countries have focused      focus its resource and attention on
      The growth in New Zealand’s trade and
      investment with China has been critical to        their attention on infrastructure. While      countries that are fully engaged with the
                                                        infrastructure may eventually be a feature    Belt and Road. We also need to be alert to
      our relative economic prosperity since the
                                                        of BRI in New Zealand, our location and       the implications of a fundamentally
      Global Financial Crisis. China is New
                                                        advanced economy status creates an            bilateral initiative, with China at the
      Zealand’s largest trading partner in goods
      and second largest trading partner when           opportunity to examine alternative            centre, for the region’s trade and
      trade in services are included. The New           approaches that may offer more                economic architecture.
                                                        immediate and scalable potential and play
      Zealand - China Free Trade Agreement
                                                        to New Zealand’s comparative                  The New Zealand China Council (NZCC)
      (FTA) signed in 2008 was China’s first FTA
                                                        advantages.                                   has commissioned this report to set out a
      with a developed country.4 China is one of
                                                                                                      range of options to expand New Zealand’s
      the world’s fastest-growing economies             BRI is dynamic and continues to evolve as     “connectivity” with China and other
      and its vast population and growing               the priorities and interests of China and     countries along the Belt and Road. The
      middle class present huge potential for           other Belt and Road countries change. It is   options are not intended to be exhaustive
      New Zealand.                                      helpful to think of the Belt and Road         but an illustrative indication of what could
                                                        Initiative as an evolving concept as          be developed between New Zealand and
                                                        opposed to a tightly defined and rigid        China working together under BRI.
                                                        project.
                                                                                                      Engaging in such an ambitious and wide-
                                                        BRI has grown from its original
     NZ – CHINA TWO                                     infrastructure foundation to now
                                                                                                      ranging initiative is not without risk.
                                                                                                      Potential risks are identified in the report.
     WAY TRADE GROWTH                                   encompass a much broader vision,
                                                        including sectors such as health,
                                                                                                      These need to be closely evaluated and
                                                                                                      taken into account as New Zealand
                                                        education and digital.                        develops its engagement with BRI.
                               18%                                                                    NZCC’s intention is to enable better
                                     16%            $23.2 billion
                                                                                                      understanding of BRI and catalyse an
                                                     $8.2 billion                                     informed discussion of the available
                                                                                                      options open to New Zealand.
                 10%
                                                                 China                                This will contribute to the development of
                                                                                   2007
            6%                                                +182%                                   the working plan as foreshadowed by the
                                                                                                      MoA and enable informed decisions
                                                                                   2017               among stakeholders around how New
                                                                                                      Zealand engages with China’s Belt and
                                                                                                      Road Initiative.
                                                     Chinese Exports as a % of NZ Exports
           2007                2017
Source: Stats NZ data for the year ended March 17
                                                     Chinese Imports as a % of NZ Imports

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BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - A Strategic Pathway - Commissioned by Sponsors: Asia New Zealand ...
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
     President Xi Jinping has said “The (Belt and Road) initiative will be open and inclusive, not exclusive ”7.The areas to which BRI
     could apply are therefore broad and open to further expansion. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)
     has set out five coordination priorities to guide engagement with BRI.

      THE FIVE BRI COORDINATION PRIORITIES8
                   POLICY COORDINATION
   Promote intergovernmental cooperation           01
     expanding shared interests, enhancing
    mutual political trust and reaching new
                                                                                               04       PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE BONDS
                                                                                                        Promote deepening bilateral and
                    cooperation consensus.                                                              multilateral cooperation through
                                                                                                        various exchanges along the Belt and
                   FACILITIES CONNECTIVITY                                                              Road. These include cultural and
 Improve connectivity through construction
   of transport, energy and communications
                                                   02                                                   academic exchanges to increase links
                                                                                                        between Belt and Road countries.
  infrastructure and technical systems along
 the Belt and Road. This includes promotion
     of green and low-carbon infrastructure.

                                                                                                       FINANCIAL INTEGRATION
                           UNIMPEDED TRADE                                                             Enhance co-ordination of monetary
Improve investment and trade facilitation in
 all related countries, removing barriers and
                                                   03                                          05
                                                                                                       policy, deepen multilateral and
                                                                                                       bilateral financial co-operation and
setting up free trade agreements to create a                                                           expand the scope of local currency
                sound business environment.                                                            settlement and currency exchange
         In addition, cooperation should be                                                            along the BRI.
       advanced in emerging industries and
        mutual investment areas expanded.

   Notice that only one (priority #2) of the five priorities relates directly to infrastructure.

      GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE                                                         •   The BRI countries have a combined population of 4.4
                                                                                        billion. To date, 69 countries (including New Zealand)
                                                                                        and organisations have signed up to be a part of the
                                                                                        BRI. Organisations such as the United Nations, the
                                                                                        World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are
                                                                                        taking an active role in BRI.6,9
                                                                                    •   The core infrastructure elements of BRI are focused
                                                                                        on six major economic corridors and the 21st Century
                                                                                        Maritime Silk Road.
                                                                                    •   While New Zealand has the chance to be on the 21st
                                                                                        Century Maritime Silk Road, our geographical
                                                                                        position means we are irrelevant to the vast majority
                                                                                        of BRI infrastructure.
                                                                                    •   The BRI Forum held in Beijing in May 2017 provided a
“Britain is a natural partner for Beijing and   “Chile is ready to be a bridge
                                                                                        platform for countries to use the evolving and
I welcome the BRI as a opportunity to           country between Asia and Latin
                                                                                        flexible nature of BRI to signal a willingness to
strengthen these ties.”10                       America.”11
                                                                                        participate even when they had not always been “on
                        Philip Hammond                         Michelle Bachelet        the map”.
                        British Chancellor                     President of Chile

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BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - A Strategic Pathway - Commissioned by Sponsors: Asia New Zealand ...
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
       PROCESS OVERVIEW
       New Zealand’s geographical position does not preclude participation in the BRI: rather it places a premium on identifying
       innovative ways to engage, building on the positive relationship we have developed with China. Fulfilling the NZCC’s brief for
       this report required an open minded and inclusive approach to identifying engagement opportunities focusing on leveraging
       the BRI to develop enhanced connectivity with China and other Belt and Road countries rather than infrastructure.
       It was important that this report focused on a manageable number of ideas that can be further developed into executable
       opportunities. A range of possible initiatives were identified using a diverge/converge approach, based around six assessment
       criteria. The stakeholder group identified eight opportunities grouped into four categories that are summarised below.

      DIVERGE                                                        CRITERIA                                           CONVERGE

                                         1. Aligned to NZ‘s
                                         comparative                                            4. Reputational
                                         advantage                                              risk

                                        2. Potential for
                                        traction under                                          5. Benefits vs.
                                        China’s BRI                                             Costs

                                         3. Value to NZ                                        6. Ease of
                                         Inc.                                                  implementation

    THE OUTCOME IS EIGHT OPPORTUNITIES GROUPED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES

   1. TRADE FACILITATION Collaborating to help optimise trade               2. NEW ZEALAND AS A CONDUIT TO SOUTH AMERICA
                         facilitation under the BRI.
                                                                                         Enabling connectivity between South America and
                                                                                         China to facilitate the movement of people and
                                                                                         goods.

  1.1 Biosecurity –   1.2 Customs       1.3 Hubbing -
  Build on            clearance –       Establishing
                                                                                            3. CREATIVE Utilising New Zealand’s world
  collaboration       Work with BRI     supply chain
                                                                                            SECTOR      leading creative capabilities to
  agreements          countries to      hubs in China or
                                                                                                        develop creative properties that
  already in place    enhance customs   elsewhere
                                                                                                        can enhance people-to-people
  to enhance          clearance         utilizing Belt and
                                                                                                        links and cultural engagement.
  biosecurity         protocols.        Road
  efforts.                              infrastructure for
                                        supply chain
                                        benefits.                         3.1 Creative properties 3.2 BRI Interactive   3.3 Epcot type
                                                                          – Collaboration on the simulations –          location based
                                                                          generation of creative Collaboration to       experience –
     4. INNOVATION                                                        properties focused on produce a game          New Zealand could
     Utilising our innovative capability through                          increasing the          simulation which is   work to create a
     research collaboration and commercialisation                         understanding of        both engaging and     center to showcase
     links with China and across BRI.                                     peoples and cultures informative.             the cultural aspects
                                                                          along the BRI.                                of each BRI country.

Following this report the NZCC has identified next steps including the development of web-based materials to assist understanding of BRI
and further consultation with stakeholders. Thank you to all those associated with this report who have invested considerable time and
resources to support this initial analysis and the conversation that will inevitably follow.

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BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - A Strategic Pathway - Commissioned by Sponsors: Asia New Zealand ...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY                                                                           3
SECTION ONE - BRI background
    BRI Background                                                                          8
    Global Map                                                                              9
    BRI Economic Corridors                                                                  10
    Risk Considerations                                                                     12
    Global BRI Connectivity Projects                                                        13
    Connectivity Case Study: Singapore                                                      15
    NZ – China Memorandum of Arrangement on Cooperation on the BRI                          16
SECTION TWO – Developing a strategic pathway
    Options Considered & Process                                                            18
    New Zealand Engagement Levels                                                           19
    1.1 Trade Facilitation – Biosecurity                                                    20
    1.2 Trade Facilitation – Customs Clearance                                              22
    1.3 Trade Facilitation – Hubbing                                                        24
    2. New Zealand as a conduit to South America                                            26
    3.1 Creative Sector – Creative Properties                                               28
    3.2 Creative Sector – BRI Interactive Simulations                                       30
    3.3 Creative Sector – “Epcot type” Location Based Experience                            32
    4. Innovation – Research Collaboration and Commercialisation                            34
    Conclusion and Next Steps                                                               36
APPENDICES
    Appendix A – End Notes                                                                  37
    Appendix B – Useful Resources                                                           39

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BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - A Strategic Pathway - Commissioned by Sponsors: Asia New Zealand ...
SECTION ONE
BRI background

                 PwC l |Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway |   7
BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - A Strategic Pathway - Commissioned by Sponsors: Asia New Zealand ...
SECTION ONE                                                            SECTION TWO

     Background   Economic       Global      Case Study:       MoA         Process          NZ         Trade          NZ as        Creative     Innovation   Conclusion &
                  Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                                Engagement    Facilitation   a conduit       Sector                    Next Steps
                                Projects                                                  Levels                      to SA

 BRI BACKGROUND
 •      The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)                 •    The NDRC is the lead government                     •    Like the historical Silk Road, the
        arose out of China’s “Go Out” policy                    body tasked with overseeing BRI.                         scope of the Belt and Road extends
        focused on promoting outbound                           The International Cooperation                            beyond infrastructure and
        Chinese Investment in overseas                          Centre (ICC) leads the international                     encompasses cultural exchange and
        assets.                                                 cooperation under the BRI.                               people-to-people connections
                                                                                                                         exemplified by a wide range of
 •      BRI was described by President Xi                  •    China’s economic interests                               activities from education exchanges
        Jinping as the “project of the                          originally focused on increasing                         to health care programmes.
        century” in 2014.2                                      demand for industrial construction
                                                                but has expanded to become an                       •    China has stated that all countries in
 •      BRI is a regeneration of the ‘old Silk
                                                                ambitious globalisation programme                        the world are invited to be a part of
        Road’, a network of trading routes                                                                               the BRI. Many countries, including
                                                                aimed at boosting the flow of trade,
        that connected China across Eurasia                                                                              Britain10 and Chile11 have publicly
                                                                capital and services.
        from the second century BC to the                                                                                stated their intention to be a part of
        end of the fourteenth century AD.                  •    Historically trade has developed in                      BRI.
        Silk and many other goods were                          response to rules based structures
        exchanged across these land and                         such as multilateral trade                          •    The NZCC believes that New
        maritime routes. In addition to                         arguments. The BRI provides a                            Zealand’s strong and economically
        tangible transport, the movement                        potential new stimulus whereby                           viable relationship with China is at
        of people aided the transmission of                     trade could evoke a response to                          unconscious risk of “preference
        culture, language, knowledge and                        infrastructure development that                          erosion” as China focuses on BRI
        beliefs along the routes.                               maps out alternative trade routes.                       countries. Preference erosion
                                                                                                                         describes a situation whereby the
 •      Originally conceived as an                         •    The BRI also holds strong                                favourable position with China that
        infrastructure development                              international political currency as                      New Zealand has historically
        programme along ancient trade                           shown by the c.1,200 people from                         benefited from would be eroded as
        routes linking China and Eurasia, the                   over 100 countries who attended
                                                                                                                         a result of China focusing its
        concept has broadened out                               the BRI Forum hosted by President                        resources and attention on other
        considerably to include a vision of                     Xi Jinping in Beijing in May 2017.                       countries more fully engaged with
        enhanced connectivity along both                        Attendees included 28 heads of                           the Belt and Road.
        overland routes (‘the belt’) and                        state and government as well as
        maritime lanes (‘the road’) linking                     other leading figures from                          •    Having signed the Memorandum of
        China, Africa, South East Asia, the                     organisations such as the UN, the                        Arrangement A and as a founding
        Pacific and on to Latin America.                        World Bank and the IMF.12                                member of the Asian Infrastructure
                                                                                                                         Investment Bank B, New Zealand is
                                                                                                                         well positioned to positively engage
                                                                                                                         with the BRI. This report is intended
                                                                                                                         to enable an informed discussion of
                                                                                                                         the alternatives available to New
                                                                                                                         Zealand.

  The BRI covers

 63%
                               Total trade between China and

                                                                                      69countries
                               other Belt and Road countries in
                               2014 - 2016 is approximately:9
 of the world’s
 population and
                               US$3trillion                                           and organisations have

 29%
                                                                                      signed up to the BRI.6
                               The BRI is predominantly
                               bilateral delivered through a
                               hub and spoke model.
 of Global GDP.5

A: Refer to page 16 for a full description.
B: The AIIB is a multilateral finance institution founded by China to bring countries together to invest in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors. 13

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BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - A Strategic Pathway - Commissioned by Sponsors: Asia New Zealand ...
SECTION ONE                                                            SECTION TWO

 Background     Economic            Global      Singapore     MoA         Process           NZ          Trade            NZ as          Film &      Innovation   Conclusion &
                Corridors        Connectivity                                          Engagement     Facilitation     a conduit    Entertainment                 Next Steps
                                   Projects                                               Levels                         to SA

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          01 The new Eurasia Land Bridge Economic Corridor

GLOBAL MAP                                                                                                                                                                                                                                02 China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          03 China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor
The Belt & Road Initiative is being described through the lens of six                                                                                                                                                                     04 China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
main economic corridors and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          05 Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          06 China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          07 21st Century Maritime Silk Road

                                                                                                    Moscow                                                                                      Ulan-Ude
                                                            Hamburg                                                                                                                                                                     Some of the economic corridors are relevant to New
                                                                                    Minsk
                                   Duisberg                            Lodz                                                                                                                                       Chita                 Zealand. For example the New Eurasia Land Bridge could
                            Rotterdam       Melnik                                                                                                                                                                                      provide an alternative supply route for New Zealand
                                                                    Pradubice                                                                   Kazakhstan
                                                                                                                                                                        Alashankou                      Ulaanbaatar                     produce to European markets. It could also bring greater
                                                             Venice                                                                                                    Khorgas                                                          competition from European suppliers by improving their
                                                                                                                                              Alamaty                                                                                   access to the Chinese market.
                                                                                                                                                                                 Urumqi
                                                                      Istanbul                                                     Tashkent                Bishek                                                             Dalian
                                                                              Athens                           Ashgabat                                         Kashgar
                                                                                                                                                                                                              Beijing
                                                                                                           Tehran                         Dushanbe                                                                        Lianyungang
                                                                                                                                                             Lahore                            Lanzhou
                                                                                                                                                                                            Kunming                        Chaozhou
                                                                                            Cairo                                                                                                       Nanning
                                                                                                                            Gwadar                  Karachi                                                               Fuzhou
                                                                                                                                                                      Dhaka                                           Guangzhou
                                                                                                                                                                                               Beihai
                                                                                                                                                     India                                                      Zhanjiang
                                                                                                                                                                                            Hanoi
                                                                                                                                                                       Kolkata                                 Haikou
                                                                                                                                                                                            Haipong
                                                                                                                                                                                 Mandalay
                                                                                                            Djibouti
                                                                                                                                                                                      Ho Chi Minh
                                                                                                                                                                      Colombo

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Kuala Lumpur
                                                                                                    Nairobi
        NEW ZEALAND’S TOP TRADING PARTNERS
        FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 2017
                                                                                                                                                                                                            Jakarta

                            1.       Australia: $24.2b
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Buenos Aires
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Santiago

                            2.       China: $23.2b                                           NEW ZEALAND HAS THE FOLLOWING TRADE FACILIATION ARRANGEMENTS
                                                                                             IN PLACE
                                                                                             1. China FTA
                            3.       European Union: $20.0b                                  2. Australia CER
                                                                                             3. AANZFTA (ASEAN Australia NZ FTA)
                                                                                             4. Malaysia FTA
                            4.       USA: $16.2b                                             5. Singapore CEP
                                                                                             6. Thailand CEP
                                                                                             7. Hong Kong, China CEP
                            5.       Japan: $7.6b                                                                                                                                                                                                                      New Zealand
                                                                                             8. P4 (Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Singapore and New Zealand)
                                                                                             9. Korea FTA
                                                                                             10. Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on
                                                                                                  Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC)
Source: South China Morning Post, Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, MFAT                                                                                                                                                      PwC l Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway l 9
SECTION ONE                                                      SECTION TWO

   Background    Economic       Global      Case Study:     MoA       Process          NZ        Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation   Conclusion &
                 Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                            Engagement   Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                  Next Steps
                               Projects                                              Levels                     to SA

BRI ECONOMIC CORRIDORS
China has identified six key economic corridors and the 21st Century Maritime Silk road which
are shown on the previous map and summarised below

  01                                                      02                                                  03
                 THE NEW EURASIAN                                    THE CHINA-MONGOLIA-                                   CHINA – CENTRAL AND
                 LAND BRIDGE                                         RUSSIA ECONOMIC                                       WEST ASIA ECONOMIC
                 (NELB)                                              CORRIDOR (CMREC)                                      CORRIDOR (CCWAEC)
  The NELB links the Pacific to the                       CMREC is built on the foundation of the             CCWAEC links China and the Arabian
  Atlantic, from China’s coastal cities of                “development of trilateral cooperation              Peninsula. This mostly follows the
  Lianyungang and Rizhao, to the                          between China, Russia and Mongolia”                 trajectory of the ancient Silk Road. It
  Netherland’s Rotterdam and Belgium's                    signed in June 2016. This connects the              starts in Xinjiang in Western China and
  Antwerp. As at August 2017, 20 Chinese                  Chinese BRI, the Russian Trans-Eurasian             joins five Central Asia countries
  cities were connected to 15 European                    Belt and the Mongolian Steppe Route                 (Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan,
  cities by rail.14,15 More than 5,000                    projects. One of the most significant               Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan) in the
  freight train journeys have been made                   projects is Amur Bridge which is due to             journey to the Mediterranean coast and
  since the start of the direct rail freight              be completed in 2019, linking                       Arabian peninsula through Western
  services in 2011.16                                     northernmost China with south-eastern               Asia across Iran, Iraq and Turkey.17
                                                          Russia by a high speed railway.17

  04                                                      05                                                  06
                 CHINA – PAKISTAN                                    BANGLADESH–CHINA–                                     CHINA – INDOCHINA
                 ECONOMIC CORRIDOR                                   INDIA–MYANMAR                                         PENINSULA ECONOMIC
                 (CPEC)                                              ECONOMIC CORRIDOR                                     CORRIDOR (CICPEC)
                                                                     (BCIMEC)
  CPEC’s 3,000-kilometre-long corridor                    BCIMEC is a hybrid land sea route                   CICPEC aims to connect eight major
  starts from China's Kashgar and ends at                 connecting Kunming in Southern China,               cities – Singapore, Kuala Lumpur,
  Pakistan's Gwadar. It connects the Silk                 through Myanmar and Bangladesh to                   Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh
  Road Economic Belt in the north and                     Kolkata in India. This corridor                     City, Vientiane, Hanoi and the Chinese
  the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in                  encompasses expressway, high-speed                  city of Nanning. Additional connectivity
  the south. It is a trade network of                     rail link, air and water way connections            nodes would be extended to the major
  highways, railways, pipelines and                       as well as power transmission and oil               economic hubs of Guangzhou and Hong
  optical cables, and is a flagship project               pipelines. The Kolkata and Kunming                  Kong, linking ten cities with a
  under the Belt and Road Initiative.                     (K2K) highway and sea routes via the                cumulative population of over 50
  Notable projects are the Karakoram                      Kaladan multi-modal transit routes are              million in the region.18
  Highway and the Gwadar deep water                       almost completed.17
  port.17

                                                                                        PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 10
SECTION ONE                                                        SECTION TWO

    Background     Economic       Global      Case Study:       MoA        Process        NZ        Trade          NZ as      Creative   Innovation   Conclusion &
                   Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                             Engagement   Facilitation   a conduit     Sector                  Next Steps
                                 Projects                                               Levels                     to SA

  BRI ECONOMIC CORRIDORS (continued)
  07
                   THE 21ST Century                         BEYOND THE ECONOMIC CORRIDORS
                   MARITIME
                   SILK ROAD
                                                            The BRI is inclusive not exclusive, as evidenced by some initiatives being initiated
  This is the ‘road’ of the BRI connecting                  outside the key Belt and Road economic corridors.
  regional waterways. The China-Indian
  Ocean-Africa-Mediterranean Sea Blue
  Economic passage will link the CICPEC                     LATIN AMERICA                                        AFRICA
  running westward from South China Sea                     •    In November 2016, President Xi                  •      China’s involvement with Africa has
  to the Indian Ocean. This will connect                         Jinping visited Latin America and                      been expanding for some time.
  the CPEC and the BCIMEC. A second                              encouraged these countries to join
  blue economic passage connects China                                                                           •      Other than mining for natural
                                                                 the BRI.
  – Oceania – South Pacific and a third                                                                                 resources, China’s main investment
  blue economic passage is envisioned                       •    China has free trade agreements                        have been in infrastructure.
  leading up to Europe through the Arctic                        with Peru and Chile.17
                                                                                                                 •      One project of note is the US$11bn
  Ocean.19 More detail is yet to be                         •    A feasibility study is underway                        construction of a 1,400km coastal
  released but the second blue passage                           considering an east-west railway                       railway in Nigeria. This was led by
  through the South Pacific could place                          across South America from Brazil to                    the China Civil Engineering
  New Zealand on the 21st century                                Peru.20                                                Construction Corporation and the
  Maritime Silk road.                                                                                                   Federal Republic of Nigeria.17
                                                            •    This would reduce the cost of
                                                                 shipping raw materials but the
                                                                 route is contentious due to the
                                                                 potential ecological and
                                                                 environmental impact.

The BRI has the potential to realise many opportunities for countries along the BRI
             Enhanced multilateral                                                                                   Increased market access
                     cooperation
                                                                                     2.                              For countries along the economic
                                                                                                                     corridors, infrastructure linkage
As more countries engage around
a BRI platform this could open up                                     1.                                             supports the potential for
                                                                                                                     development led trade i.e. improved
        opportunities to enhance
           multilateral structures.                                                          3.                      infrastructure will be followed by trade
                                                                                                                     growth.
                 Travel time reduction                                                                            Increased connection provides access
          The development of new                   6.                                                             to some poorly connected economies
   connections between countries
         provides, in some cases, a
                                                                                                  4.              Developing regions which currently
                                                                                                                  don’t have strong connections to
significant reduction in travel time                                                                              neighbouring countries will benefit
                          and costs.                                                                              from the expanded network BRI may

                    Security of supply                           5.                                               provide. This could provide
                                                                                                                  transformational opportunities for
                                                                                                                  certain geographical regions.
   Increased connectivity through
         the creation of economic                                                                                    Cultural exchange
 corridors provides increased and
     alternative access to primary                                                                                   Increased connectivity also applies in a
                goods and labour.                                                                                    cultural sense, building stronger
                                                                                                                     connections across the BRI.

                                                                                           PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 11
SECTION ONE                                                       SECTION TWO

        Background     Economic       Global      Case Study:    MoA        Process          NZ        Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation   Conclusion &
                       Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                            Engagement   Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                  Next Steps
                                     Projects                                              Levels                     to SA

       RISK CONSIDERATIONS
       There are a number of significant challenges inherent in the Belt and Road that need to be
       closely evaluated to ensure that New Zealand’s actions are in line with our best interests and
       values.
    Long term nature increases risk                         Political instability                                   Infrastructure alignment
 Many of the large scale projects will                      The BRI touches on a number of                          Standardising the ‘hard’
take time to build and require a long                       countries with a history of                             infrastructure along the Belt and
     life to enable economic returns.                       political instability.                                  Road is challenging, particularly
Some projects extend through areas                                                                                  where existing infrastructure
        that are prone to geopolitical,                                                                             already exists.
       financial and operational risks.
                                                                                         2.
                                                                     1.
                     Bilateral imbalance
                                                   10.                                                 3.           Security infrastructure

                                                                                                                    Elements of BRI infrastructure plans
       The BRI is primarily bilateral,
                                                                                                                    have been viewed as having
        with China as the dominant
    partner at the centre. Given the                      9.                                                        potential military uses that could
                                                                                                                    impact on the security of
        scale advantage enjoyed by
                                                                                                                    neighbouring countries or regions.
              China there is a risk of
    imbalance in country to country
                                                                                                            4.
                      arrangements.
                                                                8.                            5.
                       Financial burden
                                                                           7.                                       Infrastructure maintenance
    The ambitious scale of many BRI                                                          6.                     Much of the infrastructure is being
        projects risks creating a large
                                                                                                                    built in harsh or remote
 financial burden on developing BRI
                                                                                                                    environments which may require a
          countries who could find it
                                                                                                                    significant commitment to
challenging to meet loan obligations
                                                                                                                    maintaining each “link” in the chain.
  and become financially exposed to
                                                                                                                    This is required to ensure an
       the success of single projects.
                                                                                                                    effective and efficient long term
                                                                                                                    network.

                       Governance risks                     Risk to traditional relationships                       Perceived ‘competition’ with other
                                                                                                                    established trade routes
     Some BRI countries do not have                         The BRI has been described as
           expertise or a strong track                      encouraging “contested                                  In addition to political and security
            record in the governance                        multilateralism”21 with several                         challenges, the BRI may diminish the
      required to ensure projects are                       countries such as Japan and Australia                   importance of existing trade routes.
            viable and fiscally secure.                     adopting a cautious approach to                         This could discourage affected parties
                                                            participation. If New Zealand is seen                   from engaging positively with the BRI.
                                                            to be too forward leaning on BRI then
                                                            this could impact on some of New
                                                            Zealand’s traditional relationships.

                                                                                              PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 12
SECTION ONE                                                      SECTION TWO

    Background    Economic       Global      Case Study:       MoA      Process         NZ        Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation   Conclusion &
                  Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                            Engagement   Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                  Next Steps
                                Projects                                              Levels                     to SA

GLOBAL BRI CONNECTIVITY PROJECTS
China is investing in non-infrastructure projects to achieve the BRI cooperation priorities as
shown by the selected examples below. BRI carries such strong political currency in China that
projects are increasingly being positioned under BRI to gain traction with related parties.

                      TECHNOLOGY                                            DIGITAL
                      TRANSFER                                              SILK ROAD                                             HEALTHCARE
                      CENTRES
•      The international technology                        •    In November 2017, Estonia and                  •     In February 2017, the Chinese Red
       transfer centre of Inner Mongolia                        China signed a Memorandum of                         Cross Foundation established the
       was set up in Manzhouli in June                          Understanding on Strengthening                       Belt and Road Fraternity Fund. The
       2016, connecting Mongolia with                           the Development of Digital Silk                      first use of funds delivered
       Russia in areas of education,                            Road for Information Connectivity.                   treatment to 20 Afghanistan
       culture, science and agriculture.                        This focuses on promoting of e-                      children with heart disease.28
       This centre supports relationships                       commerce ecosystem development
                                                                                                               •     China and the World Health
       with agencies in Southeast Asia                          through a number of applications
                                                                                                                     Organisation signed a
       resulting in 53 technology                               such as logistics and trade
                                                                                                                     Memorandum of Understanding in
       promotion projects.22                                    information connectivity and
                                                                                                                     May 2017 to jointly establish the
                                                                cooperation in fields such as smart
•      In July 2017, China and Pakistan                                                                              ‘Health Silk Road’. This includes
                                                                cities.25
       attended the inauguration                                                                                     human resource exchanges and
       ceremony of Pakistani sub-centre of                 •    A business led association based in                  hospital alliances along the Belt and
       China-South Asia Technology                              Brussels called “ChinaEU” fosters                    Road.29
       Transfer Centre and signed two                           cooperation, trade and investment
       agreements on cooperation for                            in digital products and services
       science and technology.23                                between Europe and China.26
•      The State Council of China intends                  •    In September 2017, the Online Silk
       to build a basic national technology                     Road Convention of the China-Arab
       transfer system by 2020. This                            States Expo 2017 focused on
       includes enriching the technology                        international cooperation in the
       transfer pool and launching more                         digital economy and the
       international cooperation under the                      construction of a cyberspace silk
       BRI.24                                                   road. This includes cross border e-
                                                                commerce and smart city
                                                                development.27

                                                                                         PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 13
SECTION ONE                                                       SECTION TWO

    Background    Economic       Global      Case Study:       MoA      Process          NZ        Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation   Conclusion &
                  Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                             Engagement   Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                  Next Steps
                                Projects                                               Levels                     to SA

GLOBAL BRI CONNECTIVITY PROJECTS (continued)

                      TOURISM                                               EDUCATION                                             CUSTOMS
                                                                                                                                  CLEARANCE
•      In September 2017, China set up the                 •    The Oxford Law Faculty hosted the               •    Within China, the general
       World Tourism Alliance during the                        One Belt One Road Summit on 14                       administration in Tianjin, Hothot
       United Nations World Tourism                             September 2017. This was attended                    Customs, Manzhouli Customs,
       Organisation General Assembly.                           by over 100 delegates from around                    Urumqi Customs signed a
       This attracted 89 members from 29                        the world. This summit launched                      memorandum of cooperation In
       countries and regions, including                         Oxford’s “One Belt One Road                          September 2017 to strengthen
       New Zealand, the United States,                          Programme” on 15 September. This                     coordination on customs clearance.
       France, Germany, Japan, Australia,                       will be focused on researching                       Tianjin is the connecting point of the
       Malaysia and Brazil.30                                   common legal, socio-legal,                           CMREC as well as the NELB
                                                                regulatory and framework issues                      corridors.36
•      2019 will be the China-New Zealand
                                                                concerning the BRI
       Year of Tourism. The China National                                                                      •    China-Russia-Mongolia Customs
                                                                implementation.32
       Tourism Administration will work                                                                              Symposium on 14 June 2017 stated
       with New Zealand officials to                       •    China launched the University                        that countries have made progress
       establish a focus for the year that                      Alliance of the Silk Road in 2015,                   in customs clearance cooperation
       reflects the priorities and interests                    which connects 130 universities and                  and the 3M cooperation mechanism
       of both countries.31                                     is coordinated by China’s Xian                       (i.e. mutual exchange of
                                                                Jiaotong University.33                               information, mutual recognition of
                                                                                                                     customs control and mutual
                                                           •    A new Silk Road Law School alliance
                                                                                                                     assistance of enforcement).37
                                                                was established in December 2015
                                                                between 20 Chinese and foreign law              •    In November 2017, China Customs
                                                                schools including Australia, Helsinki,               has drafted an implementation
                                                                Delhi, Russia, Brazil, South Korea.34                guideline of Mutual Recognition for
                                                                                                                     Authorized Economic Operators
                                                           •    China has also set up a Sino-Russia
                                                                                                                     (AEO) of the World Customs
                                                                university alliance in September
                                                                                                                     Organization (WCO). This has been
                                                                2017 with 40 Chinese universities
                                                                                                                     approved.38
                                                                and 20 Russian universities.35
                                                                                                                •    As at 13 November 2017, China
                                                                                                                     Customs has signed AEO mutual
                                                                                                                     recognition agreements with 34
                                                                                                                     countries and regions.39

                                                                                          PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 14
SECTION ONE                                                       SECTION TWO

    Background    Economic       Global      Case Study:     MoA        Process          NZ        Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation   Conclusion &
                  Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                             Engagement   Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                  Next Steps
                                Projects                                               Levels                     to SA

CONNECTIVITY CASE STUDY:

SINGAPORE
The PwC Report “Repaving the Ancient Silk Routes” showcases how Singapore is an example of
a small country, which is using its competitive advantage in the context of the BRI.17

•      Singapore is the largest foreign exchange centre in Asia                      •   Singapore already manages ~60% of infrastructure project
       Pacific.                                                                          finance transactions in Southeast Asia.

SINGAPORE HAS POSITIONED ITSELF AS THE GATEWAY TO THE SOUTH EAST ASIA REGION VIA
THE 21ST MARITIME SILK ROAD

                                                                                             •       Business friendly
                                               INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING HUB
                                                                                             •       Established network of business communities
                      Leverages its world class business environment which
                                                                                             •       Economically open
                           supports facilitation of investments into SE Asia.
                                                                                             •       Low tax regimes
                                                                                             •       Absence of foreign exchange controls
                                                                                             •       Diversified talent pool
                                                                                             •       World class infrastructure
                                                                                             •       Strong and independent legal system

                                                                                         INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPLY CHAIN DEPTH
                                                                     Singapore has a growing ecosystem of participants across
                                                                                 the infrastructure supply chain. This provides
                                                                        collaboration opportunities with Chinese companies in
                                                                                                                    the region.

                                                                                         KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE EXCHANGE
                                                                   Singapore has the skills in urban planning expertise to share
                                                                                            and complement China’s expansion.

                                                           BRI INVOLVEMENT TO DATE               •     Finance (>US$6bn of deals concluded in 2016).
                                       Singapore and China have launched a joint                 •     Aviation (Changi Airport will work with Chinese
                                       project “Chongqing Connectivity Institute”                      authorities on the new Chongqing Jiang Bei
                                          to focus on bilateral collaboration in the                   Airport).
                                                         following specified areas.              •     Transport and logistics (establishing a transport
                                                                                                       and logistics hub in Chongqing).
                                                                                                 •     Information communications technology.

                                                                                          PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 15
SECTION ONE                                                         SECTION TWO

    Background    Economic       Global      Case Study:   NZ – China     Process          NZ        Trade              NZ as     Creative   Innovation   Conclusion &
                  Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore     BRI MoA                   Engagement   Facilitation       a conduit    Sector                  Next Steps
                                Projects                                                 Levels                         to SA

    NEW ZEALAND-CHINA MEMORANDUM OF
    ARRANGEMENT ON COOPERATION ON THE BRI
The Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) on Strengthening Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative between the Government of
New Zealand and the Government of the People’s Republic of China was signed on 27th March 2017 in Wellington by Chairman of the
National Development and Reform Commission, H E He Lifeng, and Minister for Economic Development, Hon Simon Bridges.40

•      The MoA is an enabling and non-      •                This strategic report is intended to                 •    The BRI MoA links the New
       binding document which provides                       provide ideas that can be further                         Zealand-China FTA upgrade and
       both countries 18 months to create a                  explored and converted to                                 the goal set in 2014 of growing
       more specific bilateral action plan.                  actionable initiatives.                                   two-way trade to $30billion by
                                                                                                                       2020 to the BRI.

                       AREAS OF COOPERATION                                                                                            “Through connectivity
                                                                                                                                       and mutual learning
                                                                                                                                       among the countries
                                                                                                                                       along “the Belt and
                                                                                                                                       Road”, and drawing on
                                                                                                                                       the comparative
                                                                                                                                       advantage and
                                                                                                                                       contributions of the

                  01                 POLICY COOPERATION                                                                                participants and their
                                                                                                                                       private sectors, the
                                                                                                                                       participants will promote
                                     through senior level dialogue on each other’s development                                         the exchange and
                                     strategies, plans and policies on a regular basis in line with each                               integration of goods,
                                     country using their comparative advantage.                                                        technologies, capital and
                                                                                                                                       personnel, push forward
                                                                                                                                       coordinated economic,
                                                                                                                                       social, environmental and
                                                                                                                                       cultural development and

                  02                 BILATERAL MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL COOPERATION
                                     through pushing forward economic and trade cooperation, upgrading
                                                                                                                                       common progress, and
                                                                                                                                       promote dialogue and
                                                                                                                                       fusion among
                                                                                                                                       civilizations.”
                                     our China-NZ FTA, expanding two-way investment flow, discussing
                                     approaches to advance cooperation mechanisms and actively
                                                                                                                                             New Zealand – China
                                     conducting mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of
                                                                                                                                                Memorandum of
                                     infrastructure, manufacturing, agricultural technologies, information
                                                                                                                                                   Arrangement
                                     technology, clean energy, regulatory harmonisation, public financial
                                                                                                                                                            2017
                                     management and trade facilitation.

                  03                 CULTURAL EXCHANGES

                                     in the fields of education, tourism, local government, youth
                                     and the screen sector. For example, using the Film and
                                     Television Programmes Co-Production Agreement to advance
                                     mutual learning and create a new situation in cultural
                                     exchanges.

                  04                 MULTILATERAL COOPERATION

                                     through enhancement of international and regional mechanisms
                                     including the UN, APEC, EAS, AIIB and PIF to promote the common
                                     interests of both countries.

                                                                                            PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 16
SECTION TWO
Building a strategic pathway

                    PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 17
SECTION ONE                                                             SECTION TWO

    Background      Economic          Global      Case Study:     MoA     Process          NZ        Trade          NZ as     Creative    Innovation   Conclusion &
                    Corridors      Connectivity    Singapore                          Engagement   Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                   Next Steps
                                     Projects                                            Levels                     to SA

OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND PROCESS
•      The NZCC in collaboration with project sponsors have commissioned this report to contribute ideas that can be further
       explored during the 18 month time frame established in the MoA. The NZCC’s decision to focus on connectivity initiatives
       allows this report to explore opportunities other than infrastructure through which New Zealand as a small trading nation
       can engage in the BRI. This does not mean that infrastructure investment may not eventually be a feature of New Zealand’s
       participation in BRI. Strengthening New Zealand’s overall engagement with BRI should be beneficial to any infrastructure
       related developments.
•      To capture a range of options through a diverge and converge process, a wide variety of initiatives that New Zealand could
       pursue were collected and narrowed down by assessing them against the six criteria described below.

                            DIVERGE                                                                                                      CONVERGE

                    Tourism               Food security                                                                                   Trade facilitation

    Trade facilitation          Supply chain        Energy exports                                                                        New Zealand as a
                                                                                                                                          conduit to South
                                                                                                                                             America

    Natural resources       Cultural/sports       Partnership in the
        and food                                       Pacific
                                                                                                                                          Creative Sector

                    Education             Virtual water

                                                                                                                                             Innovation

THE INITIATIVES SELECTED FOR CONSIDERATION WERE EVALUATED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING SIX
CRITERIA
      Aligned to NZ’s comparative advantage                                                                       Potential for traction
    NZ must have a top quartile position in the                                                                   with China under BRI
               potential area of cooperation.                                                                     Engagement and interest from China in
                                                                                                                  implementing any of the proposed
                                                                                                                  initiatives will be critical to success.

                             Value to NZ Inc.                                                                     Benefits vs costs
Each initiative must deliver benefit to NZ as                                                                     Each initiative must have a value
 a whole. This is more likely to be achieved                                                                      proposition that has the potential to
          through multilateral mechanisms.                                                                        deliver net benefits.

                           Ease of implementation                                                                 Reputational risk
                     The initiative must be feasibly                                                              NZ’s position as an internationally trusted
                 implementable with the resources                                                                 and dependable partner must not be
                                          available.                                                              compromised.

                                                                                            PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 18
SECTION ONE                                                     SECTION TWO

   Background   Economic       Global      Case Study:   MoA        Process          NZ         Trade          NZ as     Creative    Innovation   Conclusion &
                Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                           Engagement    Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                   Next Steps
                              Projects                                             Levels                      to SA

  NEW ZEALAND ENGAGEMENT LEVELS
  The outcome of the process is eight initiatives under four categories. Each initiative has been
  assessed against the specified criteria and presents a viable opportunity for New Zealand to
  engage with the BRI. This report explores different levels of engagement for each initiative to
  give options over the breadth and depth of potential engagement.

                                                   Trade
                                                 Facilitation
   Collaborating to
                                                                                                                              Enhancing connectivity
     help optimise                                  Biosecurity
                                                                                                                              between China and South
  trade facilitation
                                                                                                                              America to facilitate the
     under the BRI.
                                                                                      New Zealand as a                        movement of people and
                                                    Custom clearance                                                          goods.
                                                                                      conduit to South
                                                                                         America
                                                    Hubbing

   Utilising our innovative                                                                  Creative Sector
         capability through                             Innovation                                 Creative                         Utilising New Zealand’s
   research collaboration                                Research                                  properties                       world leading creative
   and commercialisation                            collaboration and                                                               capabilities to develop
      links with China and                          commercialisation                              BRI Interactive                  creative properties that
                 across BRI.                                                                       simulations                      can enhance people to
                                                                                                   Epcot type                       people links and cultural
                                                                                                   location based                   engagement.
                                                                                                   experience

  APPLICATION OF PROPOSED INITIATIVES TO THE FIVE BRI COOPERATION PRIORITIES
  SET OUT BY CHINA’S NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM COMMISSION
  The proposed initiatives are summarise above and the BRI cooperation priorities are described in full on page 4.

POLICY COORDINATION                                                                                          PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE BONDS

FACILITIES CONNECTIVITY

                                                                                                             FINANCIAL INTEGRATION

UNIMPEDED TRADE

                                                                                      PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 19
SECTION ONE                                                     SECTION TWO

    Background   Economic       Global      Case Study:   MoA     Process          NZ         Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation   Conclusion &
                 Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                        Engagement    Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                  Next Steps
                               Projects                                          Levels                      to SA

1.1 TRADE FACILITATION
BIOSECURITY
DESCRIPTION
                                                                                           Opportunity to apply New Zealand’s world class
•      The BRI will result in both an expansion of existing trade                          biosecurity expertise to enhance BRI trading
       flows and new routes for the movement of people and                                 partners’ biosecurity, plant protection and food
       goods. New Zealand has a world leading reputation in
                                                                                           safety.
       both biosecurity processes and the associated scientific
       knowledge.
•      New Zealand can build on the collaboration agreements
       and projects already in place to partner with China to                  NEW ZEALAND’S CAPABILITY
       enhance biosecurity efforts.
                                                                               •   New Zealand has a world class biosecurity regime.
•      An example of an existing project that could be extended
       to China’s BRI is the Better Border Biosecurity Sentinel                •   New Zealand has a number of strong scientific links with
       Plant Project. Its aim is to forecast and future proof New                  China. An example of this was the recent invitation to
       Zealand native and agricultural ecosystems against plant                    New Zealand to host the 4th International Congress on
       pests and diseases. This involves growing either                            Biological Invasions in 2021. All previous events have
       expatriate native trees or crops of value to New Zealand                    been held in China and will cover applied research around
       in overseas countries.41                                                    marine, aquatic, animal, plant and insects.42

•      The nature of biosecurity risks means that the greatest                 •   As a result of Premier Li’s visit to New Zealand in March
       benefit can be drawn from expanding collaboration                           2017, a number of Agriculture related initiatives were
       across multiple BRI countries.                                              announced.43

•      Multilateral aspects could include trilateral collaboration                 1.      New Zealand and China will establish a new
       focused on biosecurity and biological invasion.                                     Agriculture Growth Partnership.
                                                                                   2.      Establish a Joint International Research Centre for
                                                                                           Food Science between AgResearch, COFCO Nutrition
                                                                                           and China Agricultural University.
                                                                                   3.      Memorandum of Understanding signed between
                                                                                           AgResearch and the Institute of Plant Protection-
                                                                                           China Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPP-CAAS)
                                                                                           focusing on biosecurity and plant protection
                                                                                           research cooperation.

                                                                                    PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 20
SECTION ONE                                                         SECTION TWO

Background    Economic       Global        Case Study:       MoA      Process          NZ        Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation    Conclusion &
              Corridors   Connectivity      Singapore                             Engagement   Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                   Next Steps
                            Projects                                                 Levels                     to SA

1.1 TRADE FACILITATION
BIOSECURITY (continued)
                                         Potential for
                                                          Existing
Levels of engagement                     traction with              Value to NZ                   Benefits vs            Ease of           Reputational
                                                       arrangements
                                          China under                   Inc.                        costs            implementation            risk
                                                         with China
                                              BRI

 I. Working with Chinese
 counterparts to develop a
 co-ordinated inter-
 department biosecurity
 themed research
 programme as found with                                                                                                  Easy                    Low
 Better Border Biosecurity.

 II. Set up a joint
 laboratory (either virtual
 or in designated facilities
 in each respective
 country) for example with
 AgResearch, Plant and
 Food Research and                                                                                                        Easy                    Low
 China’s Institute of Plant
 Projection (IPP) focused
 on plant / animal
 protection and
 biosecurity.

 III. Establish an enduring
 framework to identify and
 implement joint research
 projects with Chinese                                                                                                    Med                     Med
 counterparts working in
 the field of plant
 protection and
 biosecurity which could
 be extended to include
 multiple BRI countries.

  AN EXAMPLE OF THE STRONG                               INDIRECT AMPLIFICATION
  RESEARCH LINKS BETWEEN NEW                                                                                      An example of another potential
                                                              Innovation
  ZEALAND AND CHINA:                                                                                              project:
                                                         •    New methods to approach
  •   China’s IPP led a delegation visit to                                                                       Tourism, biosecurity and pathways
                                                              biosecurity may arise out of joint
      New Zealand in October 2017. This                                                                           into NZ: identifying risks and
                                                              research efforts.
      was headed by the IPP Director                                                                              mitigation strategies. This will
      General Prof. Zhou Xueping.                                                                                 allow better understanding of the
                                                                                                                  cultural aspects and motivations
  •   The delegation visited AgResearch
                                                                                                                  impacting biosecurity awareness
      research facilities as well as
                                                                                                                  and compliance by Chinese
      received presentations by Plant and
                                                                                                                  tourists.42
      Food Research, Lincoln University
      Bio-Protection Center and Better
      Border Biosecurity.42

                                                                                        PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 21
SECTION ONE                                                     SECTION TWO

    Background   Economic       Global      Case Study:   MoA     Process          NZ         Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation   Conclusion &
                 Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                        Engagement    Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                  Next Steps
                               Projects                                          Levels                      to SA

1.2 TRADE FACILITATION
CUSTOMS CLEARANCE
DESCRIPTION
                                                                                           Opportunity to apply New Zealand’s customs
•      To date, much of the focus for BRI has been on the                                  expertise to ease movements of goods across
       opportunities to build physical infrastructure. The value                           the BRI.
       of that infrastructure is enhanced through maximising the
       efficient movement of goods.
•      New Zealand can work with China to help build capability                NEW ZEALAND’S CAPABILITY
       in other BRI countries to enhance customs clearance
       protocols along the BRI.                                                •   New Zealand has become a very efficient trading partner
•      This concept could encompass Joint Electric Verification                    with China. While opportunities for improvement will
       systems, Mutual Recognition Arrangements, and could                         always remain, there are efficient protocols for exchange
       enhance supply chain integrity.                                             of information and certification of origin.

•      Timely customs clearance is an important aspect for                     •   New Zealand is a well regarded international counterpart.
       efficient trade.                                                        •   NZ Customs has a positive relationship with GACC.
•      A large number of countries are engaged in the BRI and
       increased access to these BRI economies could result in
       resource constraints on General Administration of China
       Customs (GACC).

                                                                                    PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 22
SECTION ONE                                                           SECTION TWO

    Background   Economic       Global        Case Study:       MoA      Process         NZ        Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation    Conclusion &
                 Corridors   Connectivity      Singapore                            Engagement   Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                   Next Steps
                               Projects                                                Levels                     to SA

1.2 TRADE FACILITATION
CUSTOMS CLEARANCE (continued)
                                            Potential for
                                                             Existing
                                            traction with              Value to NZ                  Benefits vs            Ease of           Reputational
    Levels of engagement                                  arrangements
                                             China under                   Inc.                       costs            implementation            risk
                                                            with China
                                                 BRI

     I. A one-off trilateral
     project with a BRI
     country utilising New
     Zealand’s experience of
     how to work efficiently
     with China to help
     enhance that country’s                                                                                                 Easy                    Low
     customs clearance with
     China.

     II. Structured bilateral
     development and
                                                                                                                            Med
     delivery across multiple
     jurisdictions.                                                                                                                                 Low

     III. Establish a permanent
     capacity building centre                                                                                               Hard
     of excellence with                                                                                                                             Med
     participation open to all
     BRI countries.

CUSTOMS ARRANGEMENTS CURRENTLY                              INDIRECT AMPLIFICATION
IN PLACE                                                                                                            Implementation consideration:
                                                                 Trade
•      As at 13 November 2017, China has                                                                            Significant resources would need
                                                            •    This would have a secondary effect
       Authorised Economic Operator                                                                                 to be applied to create the capacity
                                                                 in enhancing New Zealand’s trading
       Mutual Recognition Agreements                                                                                building centre for level three.
                                                                 relationship with the engaged BRI
       with 34 countries and regions
                                                                 countries.
       including the EU, New Zealand and
       Singapore.38                                         •    Multilateral engagement would
                                                                 provide a platform for the
•      China has 14 free trade agreements
                                                                 standardisation of best practices
       in place including the China-ASEAN
                                                                 increasing harmonisation across
       FTA and the Mainland and Hong
                                                                 jurisdictions.
       Kong Closer Economic and
       Partnership Arrangement.44
•      China has more FTAs currently in
       negotiation.

                                                                                          PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 23
SECTION ONE                                                     SECTION TWO

    Background   Economic       Global      Case Study:   MoA     Process          NZ         Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation   Conclusion &
                 Corridors   Connectivity    Singapore                        Engagement    Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                  Next Steps
                               Projects                                          Levels                      to SA

1.3 TRADE FACILITATION
HUBBING
DESCRIPTION
•      Hubs are becoming key components of international                                   Opportunity to develop hubs within the BRI
       supply chains with benefits including speed to market,                              network to enhance supply chain connectivity
       reduced working capital and efficiency in transport.                                and efficiency.
•      Establishing hubs in China or elsewhere utilising Belt and
       Road infrastructure will enhance the value of BRI assets.
•      The efficiency and attractiveness of hubs could be
       enhanced through pre-clearance of product that is                       NEW ZEALAND’S CAPABILITY
       exported to a specific hub.
                                                                               •   New Zealand has experience working across jurisdictions
•      The attractiveness of specific hub locations is driven by                   on hub locations and alternative hub structures.
       the efficient transportation options to other major
       markets either in-country or in neighbouring countries.                 •   Fonterra has established a MPI certified hub in Singapore
                                                                                   to allow ease of access into South East Asia.

                                                                                    PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 24
SECTION ONE                                                           SECTION TWO

    Background   Economic       Global        Case Study:       MoA      Process         NZ        Trade          NZ as     Creative   Innovation    Conclusion &
                 Corridors   Connectivity      Singapore                            Engagement   Facilitation   a conduit    Sector                   Next Steps
                               Projects                                                Levels                     to SA

1.3 TRADE FACILITATION
HUBBING (continued)
                                            Potential for
                                                             Existing
    Levels of engagement                    traction with              Value to NZ                  Benefits vs            Ease of           Reputational
                                                          arrangements
                                             China under                   Inc.                       costs            implementation            risk
                                                            with China
                                                 BRI

     I. Explore opportunities
     for hub locations in the
     context of future
     changes in trade flows
                                                                                                                            Easy                    Low
     arising from BRI projects.

     II. Expand Level I to
     include the impact of
     pre-clearance of inbound                                                                                               Med
     products.                                                                                                                                      Low

     III. Expand Level II to
     include the impact of                                                                                                  Med
     "non-manipulation"                                                                                                                             Med
     agreements with other
     jurisdictions.

EXISTING AGREEMENTS WITH CHINA                              INDIRECT AMPLIFICATION
                                                                                                                    Supply chain benefits:
•      No New Zealand related hub has                            Trade
       been established in China however                                                                            An in market hub could extend to
                                                            •    This would have a secondary effect
       preclearance for fresh milk exists.                                                                          accessing Europe using an
                                                                 in enhancing New Zealand’s trading
                                                                                                                    alternative method of transport
                                                                 relationship with the engaged BRI
                                                                                                                    e.g. pre-cleared products could be
                                                                 countries. It would also open new
                                                                                                                    shipped to a hub in China and then
                                                                 supply chain routes.
                                                                                                                    utilise a non-manipulation
                                                                                                                    agreement and efficient land
                                                                                                                    transport options to optimise
                                                                                                                    access to other markets.

                                                                                          PwC | Belt and Road Initiative - A Strategic Pathway | 25
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